Old Age Pensions.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2398, 3 February 1899, Page 3

Old Age Pensions.

The following is a specimen of a class of, letters published in Home papers, as evidence that an old age pension scheme is needed in the Old Country ; —I would like to bring,before you the case of ray poor father, who is now over eighty-four years of age, and was a jobbing gardener, tl is wages neverexceededlSs aweek. He has lived at Barns Green, about five miles from Horsham, Sussex,; for over seventy years ; and in one house over forty years ; has never left the village to work all' his life. He brought up a family of nine children, but now four are no longer here. My mother died December 10th 1882, and soon after the home broke up. My father continued work untill he was seventy-nine years, but could only earn a few shillings a week up to then, when he had to give up altogether, and the little money he worked hard to save was goon gone. Then he applied for help from the parish, and they allow him 2s 6d a week. But if he were to leave the parish or come to live with me that would be stopped. He has to pay ls6d for lodging and washing and 6d a week for a ft iendly society of which he has been a member for over fifty years, and then he- has 6d left. Now, lam the only one who can help him to keep from the workhouse, and as a privilege and duty to my parents I have been able to give him 2s 6d a week, more.or less, for about five years, although my wages only average 25s a week now. Bat, unfotlnnately, now I have notice to leave, through reducing the staff, after two and a half yeai-S in (he present situation, and the future looks dark for us. lam married and have two children. Ye«, there'' is a need for old age pensions, and who is to bring this heavenly blessing to (he hardworking, honest man? .